Elvis Stojko is coming to Busch Gardens for Christmas Town

Figure skating champion Elvis Stojko describes his sport as “a positive drug,” a burst of adrenaline that gets in your body and makes you fly.

“No matter how many shows I do, no two moments are ever alike,” Stojko said. “There is always something new and exciting about each performance and each audience. It’s an amazing ride.”

Stojko’s ride will be the newest attraction at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg this winter, as the three-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist will star in a daily show at the Royal Palace Theatre as part of the theme park’s Christmas Town.

The park announced details of Stojko’s show, titled “‘Twas That Night,” on Tuesday. It will open, along with the rest of Christmas Town, Nov. 27 and run through Jan.3.

Stojko was a groundbreaking skater, winning world championships in 1994, ’95 and ’97 and pushing the boundaries of athleticism in the sport at a time when judges were more impressed by technical virtuosity. That style made him a major fan favorite when he moved on to professional shows.

Sandra Bezic, who will direct the show for Busch Gardens, said she is looking forward to working with one of the most popular and successful skaters in the history of the sport.

“It’s exciting to me to be working with Elvis,” she said. “He has really pushed himself as a performing artist and an entertainer. He is as good as any skater has ever been at connecting with an audience.”

Busch Gardens spokesman Kevin Crossett said “‘Twas the Night” will be a 25-minute show that will have elements of visual storytelling. He said Stojko will do two to four shows per night. Stojko’s wife, figure skater Gladys Orozco, also will be in the show.

Stojko, 43, said his legs have held up well through the rigors of his long competitive and professional career.

“The martial arts have really helped my balance, and that saves wear and tear on the knees and hips and ankles,” Stojko said in a phone interview with the Daily Press. “I have always searched for my own style, a style of skating that reflects who I truly was. I pushed the envelope athletically, and I still try to do that today.”

“‘Twas That Night” will be produced by the same team that created the popular Busch Gardens stage shows “London Rocks” and “Scrooge No More.” It will be built around a story inspired by the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known by its first line “‘Twas the night before Christmas …”

Stojko says he is “an adrenaline junkie” who recently got into racing high-performance go-karts. He said he is looking forward to the challenge of doing a daily show at Busch Gardens.

“I have always tried to do stuff that was a little edgier, and stuff that fit my personality,” Stojko said. “If you march to the beat of your own drummer, people will appreciate it. What I do on the ice is genuine. It’s me. I can’t wait to share it with a new audience at Busch Gardens.”

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Watch this awesome video as Elvis breaks down the differences between the 3 jumps and the 3 leaps used in figure skating (at approximately 5 minutes and 20 seconds of this clip):

Check out this video to see Elvis discussing and testing out the new WongMania synthetic ice facility by HockeyShot.com!